BIRMINGHAM band Escobar are headlining at Bar Academy for the first time tonight.

BIRMINGHAM band Escobar are headlining at Bar Academy for the first time tonight.

The unsigned four piece are hoping to capitalise on the feeding frenzy of record companies signing up top quality bands coming out of the Midlands.

Fresh from supporting The Enemy the band are looking forward to headlining at the Bar Academy.

Lead singer Glen Smyth, who is from Hall Green, says: "We love playing Birmingham because the crowd are so up for it. We have been doing this for two years and we have a good following now so hopefully the gig should near enough be a sell out."

And the band are proud to be part of the antidote to the bland pop acts from the likes of X-Factor and Pop Idol.

Glen, aged 23, says: "Something is happen-ing at the moment and the buzz is brilliant with proper bands coming through and playing proper music.

"A lot of people are sick of all the rubbish out there and want to see bands playing live and those that are good are being rewarded."

He adds: "The best bands out there at the moment are Kasabian and The Enemy and I think we could top them if everything goes for us."

The band, who take their name from Columbian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, comprise of Glen, bass player Jonathan Downes from Chelmsley Wood, lead guitarist Sion Ponsonby, from Harborne and drummer Jamie Beck.

Their two classiest tracks are Stand Alone and Top of the World which combine the power of Kasabian with the lyrical dexterity of the Arctic Monkeys.

Glen says: "We love playing those two tunes because of the crowd reaction."